Southern Illinois University
29-16, 0
Wichita State
15-26, 0
Softball sweeps Wichita State doubleheader
04/24/2010 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 24, 2010
By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com
WICHITA, Kan. - Southern Illinois earned a doubleheader sweep over Wichita State on Saturday, grabbing their sixth doubleheader sweep in conference play. Illinois State is only team that SIU has not swept in a doubleheader so far this season. SIU improves to 30-16, 14-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while Wichita State drops to 15-27 and 5-12 in MVC action.
The Salukis earned the win in game one with a home run from Katie Wilson to tie the game, followed by a two-run shot from Alicia Garza for the 3-1 win. The Salukis put up nine runs off 11 hits in game two, including home runs from Allie Hanson and another from Wilson. The 9-4 win gave SIU the doubleheader sweep over the Shockers.
Southern Illinois 3, Wichita State 1
The Shockers nabbed an early lead with a home run from Kiersten Dixon in the bottom of the second for a 1-0 lead. But SIU answered in the top of the fourth as Wilson powered a line drive home run just over the top of the centerfield wall to tie the game. Wilson now has 11 home runs on the season, three shy of tying the single-season record of 14, which she shares with Katie Jordan and Maria Damico.
The game remained tied until the sixth inning when SIU took the lead. With Mallory Duran on first, Garza stepped up a two-run home run for a 3-1 lead. The Salukis held the Shockers scoreless through the final two innings, earning their 29th overall win on the season.
Pitcher Danielle Glosson got the win for SIU, improving to 18-11 overall, grabbing her 12th Valley win of the season. The junior struck out 13 at the plate, a career-high for the North Carolina native. She allowed one run off two hits and walked only two batters.
Garza went 2-for-3 with one run, two RBI, a double and a homerun. She currently sits five RBI away from tying the all-time record at Southern Illinois and is tied for third all-time in career doubles. Wilson went 1-for-2 with one run, one RBI and one home run.
"I was really please with the way that we hung in there," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "We've traditionally not been that great when someone takes the lead on us. Wilson got us started, Garza finished that game up and Glosson's 13 strikeouts was amazing."
Southern Illinois 9, Wichita State 4
SIU broke a scoreless game in the top of the third inning with back-to-back home runs from Wilson and Allie Hanson. Wilson hit her second homer of the day with a two-run shot over the center field wall, putting the Salukis up 2-0. Hanson stepped up the plate following Wilson with a single home run for the 3-0 lead.
The Salukis scored two more in the top of the fifth inning, as Wilson earned her fourth RBI of the day, driving in a run for the 4-0 lead. An error by Wichita State's shortstop Sammie Shook followed by a single from Natalee Weissinger gave Southern a 6-0 lead in the top of the fifth.
Weissinger showed up again in the top of the seventh with a two-run RBI triple, giving SIU an 8-0 lead over the Shockers. Freshman Sydney Shelton reached on a fielder's choice as the Shockers attempted to throw Weissinger out at home, but the third baseman would score for a 9-0 lead heading into the final half inning of play.
The Shockers went on a run in the bottom of the seventh, beginning with a home run from Dixon to spawn the scoring. Wichita State put three more runs on the board following Dixon's second home run of the series, closing the gap to a final score of 9-4.
Pitcher Alex Peters pitched 6.2 innings before Glosson came in to relieve the junior. Peters was on her way to a no-hitter until the Shockers earned their first hit of the game in the sixth inning. She struck out four batters and walked only three, earning her second Valley win of the season.
"Alex did a great job," Blaylock said. "She's been a little injured, so it was nice seeing her throw well."
Wilson went 3-for-4 with three runs, three RBI and her second home run of the day. The senior earned a total five hits, four RBI and two home runs on the day against the Shockers. Weissinger also went 3-for-4 in game two, contributing one run and three RBI toward SIU's 9-4 win.
"The kids were aggressive in the second game, and started attacking the ball," Blaylock said. "We were able to do a few more things."
The Salukis moved into sole possession of the No. 1 spot in the Valley Saturday, with a 15-3 conference record. SIU looks to hold on to the top spot tomorrow as it wraps up the three-game series against the Shockers with a single game at noon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Glosson, Danielle (18-11)
L: Kolb, Kasha (9-16)
Batting:
2B: Garza, Alicia 1
HR: Garza, Alicia 1 ; Wilson, Katie 1
RBI: Garza, Alicia 2 ; Wilson, Katie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Duran, Mallory 1 ; Garza, Alicia 1 ; Wilson, Katie 1
HBP: Wilson, Katie 1
Batting:
HR: Dixon, Kiersten 1
RBI: Dixon, Kiersten 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dixon, Kiersten 1
SB: Mitts, Lindsie 1
HBP: Gerritse, Heather 1
